Semih Şentürk

Football player infobox
playername= Semih Şentürk
fullname = Semih Şentürk


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|4|29
cityofbirth = İzmir
countryofbirth = Turkey
height = height|m=1.83
currentclub = Fenerbahçe
clubnumber = 23
position = Striker
youthyears = 1996 - 98
youthclubs = Özçamdibispor
years = 1998-1999 1999-
clubs = Fenerbahçe PAF Fenerbahçe
caps(goals) = 56 (63) 125 (63)
nationalyears = 2001-2005
2006-present
nationalteam = Turkey U21
Turkey
nationalcaps(goals) = 83 (42)
12 (5)
pcupdate =
ntupdate = 14 September 2008

Semih Şentürk (born April 29 1983, in İzmir, Turkey) is a Turkish footballer who currently plays for the Turkcell Super League club Fenerbahçe SK in the striker position.

Career

Club career

He played 100 times for Fenerbahçe PAF and scored 63 goals. [ [http://www.tff.org.tr/Default.aspx?pageId=30&kisiId=267117 Biography at TFF Official Site] ] . His goalscoring exploits increased hopes among the supporters that Semih could be the future of the Fenerbahçe attacking line. Indeed, he managed to become something of a regular fixture in the team during the 2007/08 campaign, in which he scored 17 goals and finished the season as top scorer. His more prominent role in the team was rewarded after he was named as the vice-captain of the team after the departure of the former captains Ümit Özat, now a 1. FC Köln player, and Tuncay Şanlı, now at Middlesbrough F.C..

Reports in Turkey before the August 2008 transfer deadline stated that Sunderland were interested in securing Semih's signature, a deal which never looked likely given Semih's incredible recent form. Most recently, he secured an away victory in the 2nd round of the Champions League qualifiers, guaranteeing a place for his team in the third knockout phase of the Champions League. His four goals against MTK Budapest on 6th August 2008 meant that Semih became only the second Turkish player after Fethi Heper to score four goals in a single European match...

International career

Şentürk was called up the Turkey national football team following his successful performances in the Turkish 2007/08 football season. He wears the number 9 shirt, which Turkish football legend Hakan Sukur used to wear for the national team.

Euro 2008

Şentürk was selected for the Turkey squad to take part in the UEFA Euro 2008. On June 11, he came on as a substitute in the 46th minute and in the 57th minute of Turkey's second Group A match against Switzerland, he scored the equaliser with a powerful header outjumping the Swiss defence and beating the goalkeeper even though he got a hand on it.

In the quarter-finals match versus Croatia, Şentürk saved the Turkish squad from a late 1-0 defeat to Croatia, scoring a last-second equaliser in the 122nd minute. Just three minutes past Croatia's goal, Turkish goalkeeper Rüştü Reçber cleared an offside free-kick long into Stipe Pletikosa's area, giving Şentürk the opportunity to score with a powerful left-foot shot. Turkey went on to win the subsequent penalty shoot-out 3-1 and advance to semi-finals, with Sentürk taking and scoring the second spot kick.

The semi-finals match against Germany turned out to have a thriller ending in which Sentürk played a key role. In the 86th minute, just 7 minutes ahead of Miroslav Klose's goal (which gave Germany a 2 to 1 advantage), Sentürk intercepted a low cross provided by team-mate Sabri Sarioglu and scored a crucial equaliser. However, his side went on to be defeated as Germany's left-back Philipp Lahm managed to score a decisive goal in the 90th minute, which knocked out Turkey from the competition. After EURO 2008 finished Semih Senturk received the name super sub.

International goals

Honours

Club

* Fenerbahçe SK
** Turkcell Super League Champion: 2000-01, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07
** Turkcell Super League Runner-up: 2005-06, 2007-08
** Turkish Super Cup: 2007

National Team

* UEFA European Football Championship Semi-finalist: 2008

Individual

* Fenerbahçe SK
** Turkish Premier League Top Scorer (17 goals): 2007-08

Trivia

* Although he is 25 now, he is still called as "Genç Semih (Semih the Young)" by media and fans.
* His playing style was compared with Ole Gunnar Solskjær during 2007/08 season, as he scored most of his goals after coming from bench. This comparison came with another nickname for him, "Nöbetçi Golcü (Sentinel/Secondary Scorer)".
* Semih Şentürk scored the latest goal in European Cup history in Turkey's Euro 2008 quarterfinal match against Croatia. (at 120+2)

References

External links

* [http://www.semihsenturk23.com/ Official Web Site]
* [http://www.fenerbahce.org/futbol/detay.asp?ContentID=792&k=e Profile at fenerbahce.org]
* [http://www.tff.org.tr/Default.aspx?pageId=30&kisiID=267117 Profile at TFF.org]
* [http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/spieler/7043/semihsentuerk/profil.html Profile at transfermarkt.de]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2008/7466929.stm Highlights of Croatia vs. Turkey match]

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